“TURANDOT : Puccini
Original Air Date: 12/03/1966
Cast: Mehta; Nilsson, Freni, Corelli, Giaiotti
Media: MOD Audio SID.18200638 Tags: Archive; 2018, Nilsson, Puccini
Sirius Broadcast Premiere.
This performance is Included in the Met’s 50th Anniversary collection.
Turandot: The Best To Date at New Met
[Unsigned review in the Journal-American of opening night September 26, 1966] The celebrating the opening of the new opera house over, the Metropolitan Opera settled for repertory last night and put on its best show to date.
Puccini’s Turandot began the regular subscription season as a five-year old production that readily adjusted itself to new surroundings. It looked handsome, and it moved handsomely. Sighs. Birgit Nilsson and Franco Corelli took the leading roles as usual, the singing was magnificent.
What else is there to say! This was a beautifully knit performance. Cecil Beaton’s sets and costumes rate among the best creations. Nathaniel Merrill has achieved some of the most imaginative staging. The cast is excellent.
A new element entered with Zubin Mehta taking the conductor’s assignment. He imparts vitality and usually comprehends everything he does. The live acoustics of the pit led to overloud playing, but most interestingly he restrained himself in giving full rein to Puccini’s romanticism.
The Orientalism in the music may be super-imposed, but its romanticism is ingrained. I missed both the lushness and the theatrical magic lurking in the score. In short, the orchestral playing had neither glow nor dramatic bite to do justice to this fullest-scored and most mature of Puccini’s operas.
Just to hear Nilsson and Corelli almost sufficed last night since both were in superb voice. Yet Teresa Stratas gave such an artistically appealing portrayal of Liu that she deservedly belonged in their company. Bonaldo Giaiotti contributed a Timur of vocal and dramatic consequence.
Those conspirators Ping, Pang and Pong carried off their tricky roles more successfully than usual. I thought, thanks to the rapport of Theodor Uppman (new as Ping), Robert Nagy, and Charles Anthony. Thus the performance on stage had the best integration since the season began.
Turandot has found a sure place in the repertory; in fact, it could be developing into an old favorite. Outstanding success does pivot on the title role, to be sure, but at the moment that could not be better cast anywhere.”
“IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA : Rossini
Original Air Date: 03/24/2007
Cast: Benini; Mattei, DiDonato, Flórez, Del Carlo, Relyea
Media: Live in HDMOD Video SID.18200639 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is a simulcast of the first season Live in HD videocast. It’s the only matinee broadcast appearance of Mattei, DiDonato and Florez together, and they are a splendid trio.”
“ELEKTRA : Strauss
Original Air Date: 02/27/1971
Cast: Böhm; Nilsson, Rysanek, Madeira, Stewart, Nagy
Media: MOD Audio SID.18200641 Tags: Archive; 2018, Nilsson
This performance marks Madeira’s Met farewell, and reveals some of the vocal weakness that is surely partly resultant from her illness and death a little more than a year later. The rest of the cast, and especially Bohm are white hot. For Madeira at her best, go to the Bohm studio with Inge Borkh as Elektra. A very satisfying recording on all counts.”
“LA JUIVE : Halévy
Original Air Date: 12/13/2003
Cast: Viotti; Isokoski, Shicoff, Futral, Cutler, Furlanetto
Media: MOD Audio SID.18200744 Tags: Archive; 2018
Viotti died only a year or so after premiering the Juive. He was a real talent, and Shicoff, Isokoski and Furlanetto all bring their considerable talents in a production transferred from Vienna. This is the Met’s first season since the mid 1930s and its only broadcast to date. Some early 1930s operas were broadcast but don’t exist. La Juive was never broadcast until 2003.”
“FIDELIO : Beethoven
Original Air Date: 02/13/1960
Cast: Böhm; Nilsson, Vickers, Uhde, Czerwenka, Hurley, Anthony
Media: MOD Audio SID.18200749 Tags: Archive; 2018, Nilsson
This performance was issued also on Sony’s Met Historic CD series, as well as being in MOoD. Bohm, Nilsson, and Vickers bring all the exaltation and passion one could want to this opera. Vickers still continues to leave most other Florestans in the dust.
What a privilege to have seen him from beginning (1958 in Dallas) to end great performances well into the 1980s. He’s not for everyone, but in his core roles– Grimes, Otello, Siegmund, Florestan, Samson, Parsifal, Tristan, Enee he never left audiences wanting.
One of the very greatest singers ever to appear on ANY stage, and it
was my privilege to have shared so many evenings with him.
Czerwenka is not my idea of Rocco, but Bohm, Nilsson and Vickers are pretty unbeatable, and no one plays the Leonore No. 3 like Bohm.”
“MACBETH : Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/21/1959
Cast: Leinsdorf; Warren, Rysanek, Hines, Bergonzi
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210101 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
This is the Met broadcast premiere of Macbeth, and it’s a sterling cast– also went into the studio to record it as well and long available on RCA. Rysanek at very close to her best.”
“I PURITANI : Bellini
Original Air Date: 03/13/1976
Cast: Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Milnes, Morris
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210103 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti
I was at this broadcast as well as the premiere, and while I did not see the historic concert Puritanis that Sutherland did 12 years earlier at Carnegie Hall (and Philadelphia and DC as well) with Gedda, Bing delivered a lovely production, and the 4 principals all were well suited to their roles. This was a big break-out part for Morris and the Suoni la tromba duet with Milnes almost stole the show from Pavarotti and Sutherland.
Sutherland is 50 for this performance, and amazingly is back ten years later for another Puritani broadcast. This 1976 is the preferred broadcast and deservingly is on Met Player. It’s just a shame it wasn’t videod as well (the first video of the modern series comes a year later).
This performance is also on MOoD and is a fitting document to one of the strongest Puritani quartets ever. While I didn’t
have the good luck to be in NYC or Philadelphia for the legendary 1963 concert performances Sutherland with Gedda (American Opera Society, not othe Met in both places) Sutherland was still in pretty triumpant voice 13 years later and I was in the Met audence for both the premiere of the production and this broadcast a few weeks later. I’m not the world’s biggest Milnes fan, but there is no arguing that Met casting was top tier, and this certainly lifted Morris up from being promising to being major.
This is one of the truly historic Met broadcasts. Sutherland may not be as overwhelming as she had been in the New York, Philadelphia, and Washington concert Puritanis with Gedda (American Opera Society) a dozen years before, but she still had plenty of star power to match the three robust voiced males. I was in the theatre for this broadcast and the excitement was tremendous.”
“GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/02/1957
Cast: Stiedry; Harshaw, Windgassen, Böhme, Uhde, Schech, Madeira
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210105 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This is a very solid performance and Windgassen in one of only two broadcasts from his single season at the Met. While Frick was the pre-eminent Wagner bass of the 50s, for Hagen there was a strong competition between Bohme and Greindl for next slot. I always preferred Bohme’s voice. Harshaw is up to the score in every way if without the star presence of Nilsson or Varnay. This performance is also available in MOoD. This used to be a very rare performance.
11/21/11 – The Siegfried from this cycle was on a few weeks ago, and while Harshaw is a far different Brunnhilde than Modl, I look forward to hearing this. These are major Wagnerians (mostly native Europeans) from the late 1950s, and well worth hearing. “
“AIDA : Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/20/1954
Cast: Cleva; Milanov, Baum, Barbieri, Warren, Hines
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210208 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
Milanov, Barbieri, Warren and Hines are major Aida players any way you look at it. I used to have some cavils about Warren’s lack of equalization, but after the Verdi baritone singing I’ve endured the last quarter century, I am always grateful to encounter him in one of his signature roles.”
“TANNHÄUSER : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/09/1954
Cast: Szell; Vinay, Harshaw, Varnay, London, Hines
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210210 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
You either love Vinay or you hate him (even as a tenor). As a tenor I like him very much. Wolfram is a particularly congenial part for London, and this was the third performance of a four performance run (at least with Szell who did the next performance after this one and left the Met forever). Szell is one of the prime attractions and this performance is available on Met Player.
This performance is on MOoD and notable as Szell’s last Met broadcast and his penultimate appearance at the Met. Cast are well up to their roles, though Vinay is not to every taste– he is to mine.
This performance is available also in MOoD as well as the Sony Box and has been on Sirius before. I’m sorry that they did not seek out the 1941 Flagstad Melchior broadcast which was at one time available from the Met in their historic LP series so a decent tape does exist. The Dresden version is used.
I take nothing away from the distinction of Szell, but in Tannhauser, the title role is what makes or breaks the performance. Vinay is acceptable, but he is not prime Melchior either.
“
“CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI : Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Original Air Date: 12/07/1985
Cast: Navarro; Behrens, Moldoveanu, Clark / Pilou, Vickers, Milnes
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210212 Tags: Archive; 2018
New wave of Wagner singer (Behrens) meets older wave (Vickers) but it’s Cav/Pag, not Wagner. Behrens’ only run as Santuzza at the Met is a distant memory for me, and she doesn’t rise to one of the great Santuzzas (now Dimitrova, not always a favorite, DOES)
Vickers’ debuted in 1960 as Canio, and this 1985 broadcast performance is his final Canio at the Met. As always Vickers does it his way. He is not quite as demented as his Colon (Buenos Aires) broadcast but if you get his message (and I do), he does great honor to his farewell at the Met to this role in his antepenultimate broadcast.”
“I PURITANI : Bellini
Original Air Date: 03/13/1976
Cast: Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Milnes, Morris
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210319 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti
I was at this broadcast as well as the premiere, and while I did not see the historic concert Puritanis that Sutherland did 12 years earlier at Carnegie Hall (and Philadelphia and DC as well) with Gedda, Bing delivered a lovely production, and the 4 principals all were well suited to their roles. This was a big break-out part for Morris and the Suoni la tromba duet with Milnes almost stole the show from Pavarotti and Sutherland.
Sutherland is 50 for this performance, and amazingly is back ten years later for another Puritani broadcast. This 1976 is the preferred broadcast and deservingly is on Met Player. It’s just a shame it wasn’t videod as well (the first video of the modern series comes a year later).
This performance is also on MOoD and is a fitting document to one of the strongest Puritani quartets ever. While I didn’t
have the good luck to be in NYC or Philadelphia for the legendary 1963 concert performances Sutherland with Gedda (American Opera Society, not othe Met in both places) Sutherland was still in pretty triumpant voice 13 years later and I was in the Met audence for both the premiere of the production and this broadcast a few weeks later. I’m not the world’s biggest Milnes fan, but there is no arguing that Met casting was top tier, and this certainly lifted Morris up from being promising to being major.
This is one of the truly historic Met broadcasts. Sutherland may not be as overwhelming as she had been in the New York, Philadelphia, and Washington concert Puritanis with Gedda (American Opera Society) a dozen years before, but she still had plenty of star power to match the three robust voiced males. I was in the theatre for this broadcast and the excitement was tremendous.”
“GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/02/1957
Cast: Stiedry; Harshaw, Windgassen, Böhme, Uhde, Schech, Madeira
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210321 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This is a very solid performance and Windgassen in one of only two broadcasts from his single season at the Met. While Frick was the pre-eminent Wagner bass of the 50s, for Hagen there was a strong competition between Bohme and Greindl for next slot. I always preferred Bohme’s voice. Harshaw is up to the score in every way if without the star presence of Nilsson or Varnay. This performance is also available in MOoD. This used to be a very rare performance.
11/21/11 – The Siegfried from this cycle was on a few weeks ago, and while Harshaw is a far different Brunnhilde than Modl, I look forward to hearing this. These are major Wagnerians (mostly native Europeans) from the late 1950s, and well worth hearing. “
“TANNHÄUSER : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/09/1954
Cast: Szell; Vinay, Harshaw, Varnay, London, Hines
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210426 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
You either love Vinay or you hate him (even as a tenor). As a tenor I like him very much. Wolfram is a particularly congenial part for London, and this was the third performance of a four performance run (at least with Szell who did the next performance after this one and left the Met forever). Szell is one of the prime attractions and this performance is available on Met Player.
This performance is on MOoD and notable as Szell’s last Met broadcast and his penultimate appearance at the Met. Cast are well up to their roles, though Vinay is not to every taste– he is to mine.
This performance is available also in MOoD as well as the Sony Box and has been on Sirius before. I’m sorry that they did not seek out the 1941 Flagstad Melchior broadcast which was at one time available from the Met in their historic LP series so a decent tape does exist. The Dresden version is used.
I take nothing away from the distinction of Szell, but in Tannhauser, the title role is what makes or breaks the performance. Vinay is acceptable, but he is not prime Melchior either.
“
“CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI : Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Original Air Date: 12/07/1985
Cast: Navarro; Behrens, Moldoveanu, Clark / Pilou, Vickers, Milnes
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210428 Tags: Archive; 2018
New wave of Wagner singer (Behrens) meets older wave (Vickers) but it’s Cav/Pag, not Wagner. Behrens’ only run as Santuzza at the Met is a distant memory for me, and she doesn’t rise to one of the great Santuzzas (now Dimitrova, not always a favorite, DOES)
Vickers’ debuted in 1960 as Canio, and this 1985 broadcast performance is his final Canio at the Met. As always Vickers does it his way. He is not quite as demented as his Colon (Buenos Aires) broadcast but if you get his message (and I do), he does great honor to his farewell at the Met to this role in his antepenultimate broadcast.”
“GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/02/1957
Cast: Stiedry; Harshaw, Windgassen, Böhme, Uhde, Schech, Madeira
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210530 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This is a very solid performance and Windgassen in one of only two broadcasts from his single season at the Met. While Frick was the pre-eminent Wagner bass of the 50s, for Hagen there was a strong competition between Bohme and Greindl for next slot. I always preferred Bohme’s voice. Harshaw is up to the score in every way if without the star presence of Nilsson or Varnay. This performance is also available in MOoD. This used to be a very rare performance.
11/21/11 – The Siegfried from this cycle was on a few weeks ago, and while Harshaw is a far different Brunnhilde than Modl, I look forward to hearing this. These are major Wagnerians (mostly native Europeans) from the late 1950s, and well worth hearing. “
“GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG : Wagner
Original Air Date: 03/02/1957
Cast: Stiedry; Harshaw, Windgassen, Böhme, Uhde, Schech, Madeira
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210531 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
This is a very solid performance and Windgassen in one of only two broadcasts from his single season at the Met. While Frick was the pre-eminent Wagner bass of the 50s, for Hagen there was a strong competition between Bohme and Greindl for next slot. I always preferred Bohme’s voice. Harshaw is up to the score in every way if without the star presence of Nilsson or Varnay. This performance is also available in MOoD. This used to be a very rare performance.
11/21/11 – The Siegfried from this cycle was on a few weeks ago, and while Harshaw is a far different Brunnhilde than Modl, I look forward to hearing this. These are major Wagnerians (mostly native Europeans) from the late 1950s, and well worth hearing. “
“TANNHÄUSER : Wagner
Original Air Date: 01/09/1954
Cast: Szell; Vinay, Harshaw, Varnay, London, Hines
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210642 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
You either love Vinay or you hate him (even as a tenor). As a tenor I like him very much. Wolfram is a particularly congenial part for London, and this was the third performance of a four performance run (at least with Szell who did the next performance after this one and left the Met forever). Szell is one of the prime attractions and this performance is available on Met Player.
This performance is on MOoD and notable as Szell’s last Met broadcast and his penultimate appearance at the Met. Cast are well up to their roles, though Vinay is not to every taste– he is to mine.
This performance is available also in MOoD as well as the Sony Box and has been on Sirius before. I’m sorry that they did not seek out the 1941 Flagstad Melchior broadcast which was at one time available from the Met in their historic LP series so a decent tape does exist. The Dresden version is used.
I take nothing away from the distinction of Szell, but in Tannhauser, the title role is what makes or breaks the performance. Vinay is acceptable, but he is not prime Melchior either.
“
“I PURITANI : Bellini
Original Air Date: 03/13/1976
Cast: Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Milnes, Morris
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210743 Tags: Archive; 2018, Pavarotti
I was at this broadcast as well as the premiere, and while I did not see the historic concert Puritanis that Sutherland did 12 years earlier at Carnegie Hall (and Philadelphia and DC as well) with Gedda, Bing delivered a lovely production, and the 4 principals all were well suited to their roles. This was a big break-out part for Morris and the Suoni la tromba duet with Milnes almost stole the show from Pavarotti and Sutherland.
Sutherland is 50 for this performance, and amazingly is back ten years later for another Puritani broadcast. This 1976 is the preferred broadcast and deservingly is on Met Player. It’s just a shame it wasn’t videod as well (the first video of the modern series comes a year later).
This performance is also on MOoD and is a fitting document to one of the strongest Puritani quartets ever. While I didn’t
have the good luck to be in NYC or Philadelphia for the legendary 1963 concert performances Sutherland with Gedda (American Opera Society, not othe Met in both places) Sutherland was still in pretty triumpant voice 13 years later and I was in the Met audence for both the premiere of the production and this broadcast a few weeks later. I’m not the world’s biggest Milnes fan, but there is no arguing that Met casting was top tier, and this certainly lifted Morris up from being promising to being major.
This is one of the truly historic Met broadcasts. Sutherland may not be as overwhelming as she had been in the New York, Philadelphia, and Washington concert Puritanis with Gedda (American Opera Society) a dozen years before, but she still had plenty of star power to match the three robust voiced males. I was in the theatre for this broadcast and the excitement was tremendous.”
“CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI : Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Original Air Date: 12/07/1985
Cast: Navarro; Behrens, Moldoveanu, Clark / Pilou, Vickers, Milnes
Media: MOD Audio SID.18210744 Tags: Archive; 2018
New wave of Wagner singer (Behrens) meets older wave (Vickers) but it’s Cav/Pag, not Wagner. Behrens’ only run as Santuzza at the Met is a distant memory for me, and she doesn’t rise to one of the great Santuzzas (now Dimitrova, not always a favorite, DOES)
Vickers’ debuted in 1960 as Canio, and this 1985 broadcast performance is his final Canio at the Met. As always Vickers does it his way. He is not quite as demented as his Colon (Buenos Aires) broadcast but if you get his message (and I do), he does great honor to his farewell at the Met to this role in his antepenultimate broadcast.”
“ARIADNE AUF NAXOS : Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/20/1993
Cast: Marin; Norman, Moser, Swenson, Mentzer, Stewart, Oswald
Media: MOD Audio SID.18220103 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
For my money Jessye Norman is much better in her two earlier broadcasts (the first with Andrew Davis conducting, the second with Levine and subsequently telecast). Moser is not my preferred Bacchus, but Swenson featuring more of a lyric Zerbinetta (a la Guden) is very fine. 11/21/16
***
This is Norman’s last Ariadne broadcast and in the new production for her. I prefer the 1988 video (which is on DVD from DG) with Troyanos and Battle under Levine. Swenson has her moments as well. 4/23/12
***
I’m not sure about the interest in this performance. Norman five years earlier under Levine has a sterling broadcast and telecast with King, Troyanos, and Battle. What has NOT been broadcast on Sirius is either Bohm Ariadne : the Met premiere season in 1963 with Rysanek (supposed to have been Della Casa, but with the opera switch from Dutchman, it went to LR). Seven years later features Bohm and Rysanek with King and a delectable performance from Reri Grist. 11 July 2011
“
“HAMLET : Thomas
Original Air Date: 03/27/2010
Cast: Langrée; Keenlyside, Petersen, Larmore, Morris, Spence
Media: MOD Video SID.18220107 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is the only Met broadcast of the Thomas work. Keenlyside has a commercial DVD in the same production with Dessay from Barcelona 2004. Petersen was a late substitute for Dessay for the whole run. Larmoreis especially vivid as Gertrude, part of her movement into dramatic mezzo/soprano parts.”
“DON CARLO : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/07/1964
Cast: Adler; Corelli, Rysanek, Herlea, Dalis, Tozzi, Uhde
Media: MOD Audio SID.18220209 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
This performance is in the Sony Historical CD series. Corelli is the centerpiece, but he despite being in thrilling voice, is a bit of a mess. Rysanek has her moments, some very good, some not so good. Herlea is a successful debutant as Rodrigo, and Dalis a distinctive Eboli. The great Met Ebolis are shortly to arrive with Bumbry, Cossotto, Verrett and Zajick. This performance is heavily cut and Tozzi shows signs that his voice is no longer in prime condition, but one of the most beautiful voices ever in that prime.”
“DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER : Wagner
Original Air Date: 12/16/2000
Cast: Gergiev; Morris, Stemme, Wagenführer, Rootering
Media: MOD Audio SID.18220210 Tags: Archive; 2018, Wagner
The Met for almost two decades led a charmed life with most Dutchman revivals centered on Leonie Rysanek as Senta, and for the first decade George London as the Dutchman. This performance was an early appearance by Nina Stemme at the Met, long before her acclaimed Brunnhildes around the world in the last 5 years. People were not thinking of her as a future Brunnhilde in 2000, and an important appearance in 2016 as Elektra in a new production.”
“MESSA DA REQUIEM : Verdi
Original Air Date: 03/28/1964
Cast: Solti; Price, Elias, Bergonzi, Siepi
Media: MOD Audio SID.18220211 Tags: Archive; 2018, Verdi
This broadcast was In Memory of John F. Kennedy
Although the sound is definitely AM (not what one wants for the Manzoni Requiem), this performance documents three of the most notable Verdi singers of the 20th century: Price, Bergonzi, Siepi. Elias is remarkable for her blend with Price (on many commercial recordings as well) and this is Solti’s final Met appearance (his final full Met staged performance is Aida from December 1963 still awaits rebroadcast on Sirius).
The two performances including the day before the broadcast also included Act 3, Scene 1 of Parsifal with Jerome Hines, Jess Thomas, and Marcia Baldwin.
I’m sorry that is not included but grateful that the Verdi is in MOoD.
PARSIFAL: Act III, Scene 1
Parsifal…………….Jess Thomas
Gurnemanz……………Jerome Hines
Kundry………………Marcia Baldwin
Conductor……………Georg Solti
IN MEMORY OF JOHN F. KENNEDY
Verdi: REQUIEM MASS {35}
Soloist……………..Leontyne Price
Soloist……………..Rosalind Elias
Soloist……………..Carlo Bergonzi
Soloist……………..Cesare Siepi
Conductor……………Georg Solti [Last appearance]”
“WERTHER : Massenet
Original Air Date: 01/23/1999
Cast: Runnicles; Hampson, Graham, Evans, Robertson
Media: MOD Audio SID.18220212 Tags: Archive; 2018
I’m sorry I didn’t attend this revival with the title role moving to baritone hands (in Massenet’s own transposition) (still too high for Domingo????), but this broadcast catches Susan Graham in one of her very best afternoons.
This is the baritone version Massenet wrote for Battistini. I didn’t see it in the theatre and just over the airwaves, it didn’t work for me. It however catches Susan Graham in particularly splendid voice.
This is a novelty for if there were ever a tenor opera it is Werther, but the
composer did arrange for baritone for Battistini. Hampson is very earnest, but I want the tenor colorations. This is one of Graham’s best Met outings.”
“HAMLET : Thomas
Original Air Date: 03/27/2010
Cast: Langrée; Keenlyside, Petersen, Larmore, Morris, Spence
Media: MOD Video SID.18220317 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is the only Met broadcast of the Thomas work. Keenlyside has a commercial DVD in the same production with Dessay from Barcelona 2004. Petersen was a late substitute for Dessay for the whole run. Larmoreis especially vivid as Gertrude, part of her movement into dramatic mezzo/soprano parts.”
“ARIADNE AUF NAXOS : Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/20/1993
Cast: Marin; Norman, Moser, Swenson, Mentzer, Stewart, Oswald
Media: MOD Audio SID.18220319 Tags: Archive; 2018, Strauss
For my money Jessye Norman is much better in her two earlier broadcasts (the first with Andrew Davis conducting, the second with Levine and subsequently telecast). Moser is not my preferred Bacchus, but Swenson featuring more of a lyric Zerbinetta (a la Guden) is very fine. 11/21/16
***
This is Norman’s last Ariadne broadcast and in the new production for her. I prefer the 1988 video (which is on DVD from DG) with Troyanos and Battle under Levine. Swenson has her moments as well. 4/23/12
***
I’m not sure about the interest in this performance. Norman five years earlier under Levine has a sterling broadcast and telecast with King, Troyanos, and Battle. What has NOT been broadcast on Sirius is either Bohm Ariadne : the Met premiere season in 1963 with Rysanek (supposed to have been Della Casa, but with the opera switch from Dutchman, it went to LR). Seven years later features Bohm and Rysanek with King and a delectable performance from Reri Grist. 11 July 2011
“
“WERTHER : Massenet
Original Air Date: 01/23/1999
Cast: Runnicles; Hampson, Graham, Evans, Robertson
Media: MOD Audio SID.18220428 Tags: Archive; 2018
I’m sorry I didn’t attend this revival with the title role moving to baritone hands (in Massenet’s own transposition) (still too high for Domingo????), but this broadcast catches Susan Graham in one of her very best afternoons.
This is the baritone version Massenet wrote for Battistini. I didn’t see it in the theatre and just over the airwaves, it didn’t work for me. It however catches Susan Graham in particularly splendid voice.
This is a novelty for if there were ever a tenor opera it is Werther, but the
composer did arrange for baritone for Battistini. Hampson is very earnest, but I want the tenor colorations. This is one of Graham’s best Met outings.”
“HAMLET : Thomas
Original Air Date: 03/27/2010
Cast: Langrée; Keenlyside, Petersen, Larmore, Morris, Spence
Media: MOD Video SID.18220533 Tags: Archive; 2018
This is the only Met broadcast of the Thomas work. Keenlyside has a commercial DVD in the same production with Dessay from Barcelona 2004. Petersen was a late substitute for Dessay for the whole run. Larmoreis especially vivid as Gertrude, part of her movement into dramatic mezzo/soprano parts.”